Machine for polishing leather.



No. 545,555. Patented Mar. 20, I900. w. H. nowus. MACHINE FOB POLISHING LEATHER.

(Application filed. Apr. 15, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet I qlleqbnw $M P W WM 3 No. 645,556. Patented Mar. 20, i900.

w. H. DOWNS. MACHINE FOR POLISHING LEATHE R.

(Application filed Aqua-15, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

llli flqasses: I

tended in opposite directions.

NITEDWSTATES TATENT Fries.

WILLIAM H. DOWNS, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD H. BROWN, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR POLISHING LEATHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,556, dated. March 20, 1900.

Application filed April 15, 1899. Serial No. 713,163- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. DoWNs, of Salem, county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Machines for Polishing Hides or Skins, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to improve the construction of polishing-machines for hides or skins,whereby the quality of the work done may be improved and the capacity. of the machine materially increased.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, polishingmachines for polishing hides or skins have comprised, essentially, a glass block (sometimes made cylindrical) havinga plane polishing-surface, said block being secured to the extremity of a swinging arm, and while held in fixed position it is adapted to act upon the hide or skin, which is laid upon a table and manipulated by the operator. Such polishing-blocks have usually been made very short; but even when the hide orskin is manipulated by a skilled workman plaits are frequently formed, particularly adjacent the shanks. I In accordance with this invention a polishing-roll is provided, as contrasted with a fixed block, which is made quite long, and said roll is journaled in a stationary frame, and means are provided for positively rotating said polishing-roll, and said roll is composed of a cylinder having arranged on it two adjacent sets of helically-arranged polishing-ribs, ex-

A bed-roll is provided upon which the hide or skin to be polished is placed, and said bed-roll is journaled to a swinging arm and is freely revoluble in its bearings. The bed-roll cooperates with the polishing-roll when brought into proper position relative thereto, and the hide or skin placed thereon is held and manipulated by the operator.

Figure 1 shows in plan view a polishingmachine embodying this invention for polishing hides or skins; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the polishing-machine shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, a cross-section of the polishing-roll, showing particularly the shape of the polishing-ribs thereon.

with journals which rest in journal-bearings of any usual or suitable kind, which are provided at the extremities of the arms of the yoke or frame A I The polishing-roll B is made of glass, (or it may be a metallic frame having thereon a glass shell, as usual in the manufacture of glass rolls,) and said glass roll is composed of a cylinder having formed thereon two adjacent sets of helically-arranged polishing=ribs b b, extended in an opposite direction from a point or points at or near the middle of the cylinder. These polishing-ribs are formed with rounded edges, as'represented in Fig. 3, so as to present smooth polishing-surfaces. The ribs on the cylinder being thus made of glass and formed with smooth rounded edges especially adapted for polishing hides or skins are herein termed polishing-ribs, and so far as I am aware no polishing-roll has ever been made having two adjacent sets of polishing-ribs arrangedhelically on a cylinder and extended in opposite directions.

By arranging the polishing-ribs helically the hides or skins will be spread and stretched more or less and all the wrinkles incident to the natural fullness of the hides or skins will be laid flat as thehide or skin is acted upon.

A belt-pulleyc is secured to one of the journals of the polishing-roll, over which passes a belt 0, which passes over a belt-pulley 0 secured to a main driving-shaft 0 having its bearings in the frame, said main drivingshaft having on it the usual fast and loose pulleys.

A bed-roll d is provided, which consists of a cylinder having its ends reduced in diameter in the form of a cone and having journals cl at its ends, and said journals d pass through elongated slots (Z2612, formed or provided in the upper ends of arms d 01 and have their bearings in short arms 61 61 which are adjustably secured to said arms d d by bolts (1 d ,the elongated slots 0? permitting the bedroll to be adjusted in the arc of a circle on the bolts (1 as an axis, and consequently toward and from the polishingroll. The arms (i d bearing the bed-roll, form the essential parts or members of a swinging frame, which is pivoted at its lower end at d to the column A, near the base, and said arms are joined together at several points by cross-bars d On the swinging frame and supported by it is a table 61 which is adapted to receive and support any portion of the hide or skin which may be placed thereon. The swinging frame is operated bya treadle composed of two arms 15, pivoted at t to stands 25 and having their rear ends loosely connected by links 25 with the arms of the swinging frame, the parts being arranged so that a toggle is formed between the pivot of the treadle and the connection of the link 6 with the frame. The treadle has its foot-piece formed with an opening which receives the stand 25 The downward movement of the swinging frame is limited by the rear ends of the treadle and links striking upon the column A near the base, and the upward movement of said frame is limited by the adjustable stop e, held in an ear 6, projecting from the column. A co unterbalan ced weight w is attached to the swinging frame. The hide or skin to be polished is laid over the bed-roll, and the swinging frame is then raised to bring the hide or skin into engagement with the polishing-roll. The polishing-roll is rotated at a high speed, and the bed-roll is freely revoluble in its bearings; but the hide or skin will be held taut by the operator, so as to be fed forward only as fast as it may be desired.

It will be seen that by adjusting the bedroll as shown its relative angle to the polishing-roll may be slightly changed in order that the helical polishing-ribs may act upon the hide or skin, which is laid over and supported by the bed-roll.

I claim 1. In a machine for polishing hides or skins,

a positively-rotated polishing-roll having thereon two sets of helically-arranged polishin g-ribs extended in opposite directions,such polishing-ribs being formed of hard unyielding material, and having smooth rounded en- 5o gaging or contacting faces, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for polishing hides or skins,

a bed-roll and a positively-rotated polishing roll having thereon helically-arranged p01- ishing-ribs, said ribs being formed of hard non-absorbent material, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for polishing hides or skins,

a bed-roll, a polishing-roll having thereon two adjacent sets of helically-arranged polish ing-ribs extended in opposite directions, said ribs being formed of a hard and substantiallyunyielding material, and means for positively rotating said polishing-roll, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for polishing hides or skins,

a freely-revolvin g bed-roll, a swinging frame bearing it, a polishing-roll having thereon helically-arranged polishing-ribs, said ribs being formed of hard material and having smooth rounded engaging or contacting faces, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for polishinghides or skins,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the -presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVILLIAM H. DOIVNS.

Witnesses:

WARREN H. ATWOOD, Janus W. GILDAY. 

